Moccia, Defense Stand Tall as Camels Edge Jeffs

NEW LONDON, Conn.--Senior Rob Moccia (Malvern, Pa.) stopped nine shots and the Camel defensive unit stood tall, as Connecticut College knocked off Amherst, 5-4, in a NESCAC game played on the Artificial Turf at Silfen Field Tuesday.

The Camels frustrated a diversified and talented Amherst offense that was averaging 10.25 goals per game. Connecticut College improves its record to 7-5 with a 4-4 mark in the NESCAC. The Lord Jeffs are 8-5 with a 4-4 record in conference play.

Junior Andrew Freedman (Sudbury, Mass.) scored twice and accounted for the eventual game-winner with 6:39 remaining in regulation. John Lyons (Barrington, R.I.) netted his team-leading 21st goal of the season to go with an assist, while sophomore JR Hartgers (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) contributed with goal #16 and assist #11 to raise his season's offensive output to 27 points.

Amherst senior midfielder Alex Fox (Garden City, N.Y.) scored a pair of goals in the setback for the visitors. Devin Acton (Sudbury, Mass.) netted his 30th goal of the season and added an assist. Acton leads the Lord Jeffs with 39 points.

Danny Gold (Medfield, Mass.) had five ground balls and Cole Cherney (Chappaqua, N.Y.) registered three ground balls to go with a pair of caused turnovers in the loss.

Senior net-minder Samuel Jakimo (Woodbury, N.Y.) made six saves in the cage for the visitors.

The Camels took a 2-1 lead after one. In the second quarter, Stephen Eicher (Northport, N.Y.) rifled one home from the right side of the box with 7:16 to go and the Camels carried the 3-1 advantage into the break.

With 9:31 remaining in the third, Moccia made a terrific save on a bounce shot from Fox to protect to the two goal lead. However, with 6:59 to go the Lord Jeffs pulled to within a goal when Evan Redwood (Lutherville, Md.) assisted Acton for a score.

The Camels regained their two goal edge when Hartgers assisted Lyons for a score with a pass from behind the cage at 4:52. But Amherst closed out the third quarter scoring with 29.2 seconds left when Fox put in an unassisted marker.

In the fourth quarter, the Camels took a 5-3 lead when Freedman scored on an assisting pass from Lyons with 6:39 remaining.

But the Lord Jeffs would not go away and with 3:53 to play in regulation, Aaron Mathias (Ridgefield, Conn.) elevated for a jump shot from the top of the box to make it a 5-4 contest.

But Moccia and the Camel defense slammed the door tight after that and the hosts were able to hold on for the 5-4 victory.

Amherst out-shot the Camels 43-to-26 in the contest and held a 25-to-15 edge in ground balls.

Both teams will play their next games Saturday at 1. Amherst host its long-standing rival Williams for a 1:00 p.m. game while the Camels head north to take on Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.

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NEW LONDON, Conn. - Amherst dropped to 8-5 overall and 4-4 in NESCAC play with a 5-4 loss at Connecticut College (7-5, 4-4 NESCAC).

Alex Fox '12 (Garden City, N.Y.) netted a pair of goals for an Amherst offense that held a decisive 43-26 shot advantage despite losing 9 of 12 face-offs. Devin Acton '14 (Sudbury, Mass.) added a goal and an assist in the loss, while Aaron Mathias '14 (Ridgefield, Conn.) accounted for the Jeffs' only other score.